Rice Grains

UP...and DOWN....UP...and DOWN..... May I be honest and say that is the story of my life right now? I seem never to know when I will be UP and when I will be DOWN. I would be ready for that stage to be over, but I will need to ride that one out I think.:)

I experienced some intense aloneness a couple weeks back. I asked for prayer, and then last week I experienced a VERY busy week with a variety of people. I was so busy I had little time to study. But I was so happy to be with people I didn't care too much. Then Monday (yesterday) I had a test in language class, and BOOM! I hit bottom; I was CERTAIN I had flunked big time. Amost nothing on the test made sense to me, I left a couple questions blank, and I guessed on the majority of the rest.

So I went home and had a pity party for me, myself, and I. Then I made myself call a lady named Dang (Dahng) to eat supper with her. She lives on my street and we ran into each other at a little restaurant shop. She took me out to eat at a nice restaurant not far from our neighborhood. She brought her 15-year-old son along, and her 26-year-old son met us at the restaurant.

It turned out that the older son is a Christian but Dang remains a Buddhist. I told her if she ever wants to study the Bible I would be happy to study with her. She said her family and friends would be sad if she became a Christian. I don't know what will happen, but I do know she wants to meet with me again sometime. And I also know that our conversation re-energized me and reminded me of why I am here.

This morning Khruu (teacher) Arindra returned our tests to us, and I found that she had marked very little wrong on my test. HOW that happened, I don't know! Reminds me of high school chemistry and geometry which I never understood very well but managed to pull off A's and B's in spite of little understanding.

After class today I turned in my application for a 6 month student visa through ULS (Union Language School) and paid tuition in full for those 6 months--nonrefundable. So now I am "locked into" studying here for 6 months. But I have a peace about it even if I end up repeating some modules (not that I WANT to!). Next module focuses on reading and writing Thai script; I understand it is quite difficult. OK, fine, so the first two modules have been difficult for me; how much more difficult can it get?? :)

As I was entering the elevator to leave the school, I met my Korean classmates returning to school. They grabbed my arm and took me back inside where they were studying and doing homework for the class. So I did my homework with them! And now I am at an internet cafe without access to any of my pictures; therefore, you will have to be content with words only today.:)

I plan now to go home and study the lesson guide we were given today. It is 3:02 PM according to the computer, and I probably will not get home much before 5:00 PM tonight.

Posted by Sharon Rice at 02:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Wow, I've had a busy week, and so have not had time to blog. Monday was a holiday, so no school. I was invited by Pastors Fan and Pla to go with them and another American couple to a floating market. I left my apartment at 6 AM, and I didn't get back till 11 PM! It turned out we not only went to floating market, but then to a seaside restaurant, then to a Thai market, then to a park, then got 45-minute foot massages at the park while we were waiting to go on another boat ride at night to see "Christmas trees"--trees along the river in which hundreds or thousands of fireflies hovered and blinked their lights almost in sync! Oh, and the men brought flashlights along and shone them along the edge of the river to see what they could scare up. They managed to disturb several HUGE bats and a few trees full of some sort of white water bird. When we returned from our night excursion, I thought surely we would be going home. But oh my no! We had to eat yet another meal! And they had been feeding us all day long! I was STUFFED!

These people were so generous. They wouldn't let us pay for anything! So I felt very blessed. Otherwise, I'm afraid my budget would've been BLOWN!! By the way, I mentioned floating market. That is a village built around a canal system, and some people sell their wares off their boats; others sell their wares along the canal, and people take boats up and down the canals to make their purchases.

Following are a few pictures of that trip.

Oh my, so much more I could say. This is getting long--maybe too long. But in short, Tuesday after school Hiroshi helped me find the immigration department to renew my visa for 30 days. That took most of the afternoon. Wednesday ate lunch with Joy, my Australian friend from class, then went to her apartment to chat. Thursday I ate with Joy and John, and today I ate with Hiroshi and Yukiko. So it has been international week for me.

I have enjoyed being with people for meals, but I fear my studies have not been what they should. So now I must buckle down and return to studies. Test Monday!

Posted by Sharon Rice at 07:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Today I spent time with a friend named Boo (crab) and her friend Lek (small). I met them a couple weeks after I came to Thailand but then lost touch. But today I had nothing much on my agenda, so I called Boo, and she invited me to her house. She has a car, and she and Lek came to pick me up. Back at the house they put out quite a spread of food. I had a lot of fun trying the various types.

Boo is fairly well off. She lives at the condo with her mom and sister. I've attached just a few pictures of the flowers outside and of her puppy that she rescued off the street (note the interesting "sweater"), and of course, of the three of us ready to chow down!

After eating, they put a few more plants on an upstairs balcony, and then it was time to return toward home. But Boo also has an apartment on my street, so she asked if I wanted to see it. Of course, I said yes, so we went there and chatted some more. Boo is very good at telling me Thai words. If only I could remember them all!!

Oh, and I invited them both to church with me. Boo's question was, "We are Buddhist; will they allow us inside?" I assured her that she and Lek would most certainly be allowed inside. They have not promised to come, but they seemed open to the possibility. Time will tell....

Posted by Sharon Rice at 09:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Tonight was rainy, so I walked out to the corner and ordered a take-out of fried rice with chicken and vegetables. I've just discovered that is one way to get some vegetables. It is quite flavorful. Pardon the clutter on the picture. I ate at my desk, and I didn't bother to clear anything off. Oh, and I bought fresh pineapple as well. The whole meal cost me 35 baht, about a dollar. Notice the little plastic bag with red chilies, or something like that. I tried some and did OK with it! Maybe I will learn to like HOT food!:)

Below is the apartment manager, Kitti, and his family. Luung is the mom's name. Luk is the 16-year-old, and Kop is the 10-year-old. I am enjoying getting to know them as I come down to the office to use the internet there.

Posted by Sharon Rice at 09:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

OK, I think this is funny. I just returned from eating supper at Kai's restaurant, and on the way back, I passed a small stand with an older couple sitting around it. We exchanged greetings and smiles, and then they waved and pointed and said (in Thai--and I understood it!!), "You live over there on the fifth floor! We saw you open your curtains and look out!" I almost never have my curtains open simply to keep the sun out while I am gone. But tonight for about 2 minutes I looked out the window to see why one of many dogs was yelping (the animal lover in me). And that's all it took! So I wonder who else knows where I live!:)

No pictures today. I promised Luk I'd only take 15 minutes tonight since he didn't get to "play internet" last night.:)

Posted by Sharon Rice at 08:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Beings I live in the city, I don't have many nature pictures so far. But the following 3 pictures were taken the day I went to Muang Boran with my Thai friends. I hope to check out Rama IX Park, which is not terribly far from here. I have seen a few pictures of the place, and it looks beautiful. Hope you enjoy the pictures! More later.

Posted by Sharon Rice at 09:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

I had a great time with my new friend, Kai, and her family on Wednesday. Muang Boran is a 320-acre area shaped like Thailand. It has a variety of buildings, statues, temples, etc. (replicas), from various eras of Thailand's history. It was very beautiful; we spent several hours there before heading home. Kai's sister-in-law, Mem, went along. She was a lot of fun, had a silly side to her that maybe brought a bit of the silly out in me.:)

I must go; Luk is waiting to use my computer!:)

Posted by Sharon Rice at 09:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Wow, I am so excited! I have just planned my first outing with a Thai friend. She is Kai (pronounced "Guy")--means "chicken" in Thai. She is the lady who runs a little restaurant down my soi (street). Tonight I walked there for supper, and she pulled out a bunch of pictures for me to see. Many of them were at some park not too far from here, and she offered to take me there. So on Wednesday we plan to leave about 8:00 AM for this place. The picture above is of her family. Her little girl is 7 months old--really cute.

Oh, then there's my ear update! I ended up going to a hospital because some American friends in my class checked with a Thai nurse friend of theirs, and she recommended this hospital. I went there today, and my ear is 100% better--needed wax suctioned out. Let's just say there was plenty!:) Now I can hear again! Oh, the hospital bill was 950 baht--about $25 American. Hard to beat that! I was quite impressed with the hospital. My manager says it is a very good place, but expensive.:)

Must go study for my Thai language test!

Posted by Sharon Rice at 09:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Here's a picture of my Thai language class. It's not a very good one, but it 's the best I have right now. Class is up in two days. Tuesday we have a big test. I'm apprehensive.... But I am registered for the next module at this point. I will have Wednesday-Friday off, and class starts up again the following Monday.

Tomorrow I will visit a Thai church that a couple from my language class attends. The service will be in Thai, but I can wear headphones that translate into English. Then a wedding will be held there in the afternoon, so I think I will stay for that.

Pray for good health for me. My right ear has been shut for a week now, and I am still not up to par from my cold. On Monday Luk, the manager's son, says he will accompany me to a doctor!? Should be interesting. I was asking him tonight where there is a doctor, and he thought I was just trying to learn more Thai. So he looked up the word for "genuine", and asked me if I'm serious!:) He wrote directions in Thai script for me to give to a taxi driver, then decided he should just simply go with me.

I'll give the verdict when I know it!

Posted by Sharon Rice at 09:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Above is a picture of my Korean friends I mentioned. I still can't figure out how to attach more than one picture per entry.

Regarding friends, funny how fickle emotions are. Today I felt lonely. Wanted to have some real friendships instead of haphazard meetings with a variety of people. Tonight as I went out the door to get supper, Lok, the apartment manager's son, stuck his head out the door, greeted me, and attempted a small conversation. Wow that felt good. Then I went to a new little restaurant down my street, and the lady there was delighted to see me and talk with me. She spoke good English but wanted to teach me Thai words. She even got out pen and paper to write things down. Her name (nickname) is "Gai" (pronounced something like "guy"). I sensed a real warmth from her and received an open invitation to come any time--every day if I want--and she will help me learn Thai. Feels like a real friendship possibility!

Posted by Sharon Rice at 08:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Today I ate lunch with my Japanese friends from class. Hiroshi and Yukiko. They are super nice people. Hiroshi offered again today to study together, so we spontaneously decided on today. We walked to MBK, a big mall not far away, and had lunch in a Thai restaurant there. Then we stopped at Swenson's for ice cream, but Yukiko had to leave. So HIroshi and I had ice cream sundaes, complete with unsweetened real whipped cream. Then we did our kaanbaan (homework). I was stressed out--Hiroshi is so sharp and so fast; I am the opposite. I think we sat there doing homework until a little after 4:00 PM. On the way home, Hiroshi said, "Next time we study English!" OK, I agree--much less stressful for both of us I think!

Yesterday I happened upon my Korean friends over lunch time, so I sat with them. They are from the Korean Presbyterian Church. One of them knows English quite well; the others struggle. So I mostly sat quietly while they jabbered in Korean. But it was good to be among friends.

Language school continues to be a challenge. This evening I read Proverbs 4:5-6, I believe, where we are told to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not to our own understanding. I think that was meant for me. I don't know what the picture will look like down the road, but I can rest in the truth that God is in charge. What more do I need?

Posted by Sharon Rice at 08:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

This is the building where I go for classes. It is the Church of Christ in Thailand, and I meet on the 7th floor.

Posted by Sharon Rice at 05:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

OK, I don't know how this works, but I am trying to attach a picture of the BTS Sky Train that I ride every day to language school. I am sitting in the office of my landlord after he and his wife decided to download their internet software on my computer. I am feeling a little nervous about this--they have offered me the use of their office and phone line in the evenings when they are not there. I am a bit afraid of imposing upon them, but time will tell....

So for now I am taking advantage of the opportunity to try out some things.

Posted by Sharon Rice at 05:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)